Chapter 21

The servants of the Arvan Duchy weren’t fond of their future mistress, Leonia. Even though they never let their displeasure show outright, whenever two or more gathered behind closed doors, she became the subject of their whispered complaints.

“Can you believe it? A woman cast off by the Marquis Regen is to become the lady of a duke’s household. Does that make any sense to you?”

Today, no less than ninety percent of the staff had gathered for idle chatter.

“If she was dumped by that notorious rake, just imagine what she must have done to deserve it.”

“They’re not even married yet, but she’s already sharing his bedroom. That says it all. I’d wager she got herself pregnant on purpose, just to shackle the master.”

Bang!

Suddenly, unable to listen any longer, someone slammed a hand down on the table.

“Y-You!”

Only then, seeing Ase standing there with her usual unreadable expression, did the others realize their mistake.

Ase, the maid Leonia had brought with her from her family home, was fiercely loyal to her mistress. If she reported any of this back to Leonia, they would all be as good as dead.

“You all seem to be enjoying yourselves.”

But before Ase could even think of reporting the situation, Leonia herself appeared.

“M-My lady!”

Startled, every last maid and manservant dropped to their knees on the floor. Not only those who had openly criticized her, but even the ones who had simply nodded along, now trembled and begged for forgiveness.

“We’ve committed an unforgivable sin!”

“Please, have mercy on us!”

“P-Please, show us some kindness, my lady!”

“Funny. Just a moment ago, you said you’d never accept me as your mistress, yet you’re quite eloquent now.”

Her words sent a wave of despair through the room.

“I’ll soon be wed to His Grace the Duke. To insult me is to insult his choice.”

The servants, still bowed with their foreheads nearly touching the floor, slowly turned their eyes toward her.

“By rights, I should punish you all for such insolence. But for the sake of your long years of loyal service to this house…”

Leonia let her words hang in the air, her gaze sweeping over them.

Those who kept silent, those who quietly agreed, those who openly voiced their scorn… It was now perfectly clear who deserved to stay and who needed to go.

“I’ll be merciful.”

“…Pardon?”

“Anyone guilty of this offense has two days to leave the Duke’s estate. If you do so, I’ll ask no further questions.”

It was an unexpectedly generous sentence.

After all, for common-born servants to be caught insulting a noblewoman like Leonia, and yet she wasn’t even going to punish them?

“Let’s go, Ase.”

Leonia turned away, leaving behind dozens of bewildered eyes staring after her.

“Are you sure it’s okay to let them off so easily, my lady? What if they start to think you’re weak…”

“That won’t happen.”

She replied firmly.

“I plan to dismiss all but the two maids at the very back.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ll keep those two a little longer since they looked like they were just going along with the others. But if that’s not the case, I’ll dismiss them too.”

As for the rest, there was nothing more to say.

“But, my lady, didn’t you just tell them only those truly guilty should leave…?”

“I’m the one who was insulted, so surely I get to decide who’s guilty.”

Don’t you think?

With a faint smile, Leonia’s words left Ase momentarily stunned before her eyes sparkled with admiration.

“My lady, you truly are remarkable!”

When Leonia gave a small shake of her head, as if to say ‘enough of that,’ Ase declared that she would devote her loyalty to her lady for life.

“But… won’t it cause an uproar if you dismiss so many servants all at once?”

“I don’t mind.”

In fact, the more noise they make on their way out, the better.

‘Let’s hope they take the bait just as planned.’

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

A large number of servants were dismissed from the Duchy of Arvan. Rumor had it that the reason was simply that they had crossed me. There was, of course, some grumbling. After all, I was acting the lady of the house before the wedding had even taken place, but the prevailing gossip was that Louis and I seemed truly happy together.

And, perhaps because of these rumors, Diego did something unexpected.

‘Who would have thought he’d try to throw another banquet in this situation?’

It was only recently that he’d hosted a banquet at the imperial palace to announce his engagement to Lady Branto, the marquis’s daughter. And after making such a spectacle there that he was ordered into confinement, you’d think even he would know when to stop.

“…Leni, you really have no eye for men. It’s almost tragic.”

Alice, it seemed, shared my sentiments, delivering her verdict with cold honesty.

“If someone like that is going to be the next emperor, maybe it’s time I looked into exile. This empire might be finished.”

Perhaps it was because we were alone in the soundproof carriage, but the criticism was harsher than usual.

“And while we’re on the subject, I never liked your fiancé either.”

“…You mean Duke Louis?”

“Yeah.”

‘…Why was she bringing him up now?’

I looked at Alice, puzzled.

“No matter how busy he is, what sort of man tells his fiancée to go to the dressmaker’s alone for her wedding gown?”

At the moment, we were on our way to the atelier to be fitted for the gowns we’d wear at the upcoming ball and the wedding. Louis, meanwhile, had excused himself, claiming his workload was simply overwhelming. He’d tried to show his sincerity by reserving the most renowned atelier in the capital just for us, but to Alice, he already seemed like a second coming of Diego.

“He could’ve at least summoned the designer to the estate.”

“I’m not comfortable at the estate. Even after dismissing a few, there are still far too many servants who hate me.”

I replied, doing my best to defend Louis. Then, finally seizing my chance, I shifted the conversation to something I’d been meaning to ask about.